It is almost two years since Munster pushed Clermont all the way, in Montpellier, before narrowly missing out on the Heineken Cup final.
Inspired by Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray, with Paul O'Connell immense and Ronan O'Gara at his tactical best, it was heralded as a changing of the guard. The next generation of Munster Rugby had earned their stripes, tasted heartbreak for the first time, and would bounce back stronger.
That view, in April 2013, was trumpeted again later that year when JJ Hanrahan's stunning side-step and score delivered a rousing win away to Perpignan. The logic, espoused by pundits, writers and fans, was that once Anthony Foley replaced Rob Penney - a coach who got the province to two European Cup semis let's not forget - Munster would revert to their old ways and success would not be far away.
Interestingly, only six players that started the Perpignan game were in the Munster XV for their 33-10 humbling at the hands of Saracens. Only four players - Felix Jones, BJ Botha, Peter O'Mahony and Paul O'Connell - started all three of the games mentioned. From those four, only O'Mahony and Jones will be around beyond 2016 as Munster try to recapture the glory days.
Much was also made of Munster's impressive ability to consistently reach the knock-out stages. Saturday's mathematical elimination from the Champions Cup was only the second time in 17 years they failed to reach the quarter-finals. However, given their back/trapdoor exit into the 2010/11 Challenge Cup, it is also accurate to say Munster have now failed to reach the quarter finals of the European Cup twice in the last five seasons.
Excusing the Munster players injured for significant periods this season (there has been quite a list), the next generation have yet to deliver.
Three areas it went wrong against Saracens & Clermont
Poor kicking: Some day soon the name Ronan O'Gara will not be mentioned the moment Munster's tactical kicking goes horribly wrong. But for now, the legendary out-half's match-winning performances are still fresh in the memory, leading one to think 'O'Gara wouldn't have done that'. Ian Keatley has enjoyed the backing of his coach this season and his passing was crisp against Saracens. However, he made costly kicking mistakes.
His greatest error was kicking dead, under no pressure, on 20 minutes and giving Sarries an attacking scrum inside the Munster 10-metre line. Chris Wyles' try came off the back of that scrum.
Allied to Keatley's inaccuracy was a hesitant, error-strewn scrum-half performance from Duncan Williams, which did not help matters.
Tactical naïvety: Trucking the ball into contact, phase after phase, is a handy tactic when your side is making ground. Against Clermont - home and away - and Saracens, Munster tossed the ball to CJ Stander, Dave Foley and Paul O'Connell but made minimal gains. Stander aside, there is no other Munster forward possessing the pace and dynamism to worry defences. Opponents know that if they stick tackle ferociously Munster will come unstuck.
As highlighted, in
a piece praising the South African, Stander carries nine times out of every ten possessions. As Munster's main ball-carrier, Saracens and Clermont knew what was coming their way. Billy Vunipola is Saracens' main carrier but passes once every three possessions. Still, Munster were wary of the big man's line-breaking potential. He was delightfully used as a decoy runner - taking out two [circled below] Munster defenders - for Wyles' opening try on Saturday.
Clermont second-row Damien Chouly also observed, following his side's win at Thomond Park, that he knew O'Connell would
call a last-minute line-out on himself. The throw came, Clermont got a hand on it and Munster's set-play was dead in the water. If you are singing from the same hymnsheet for long enough, the neighbours will eventually pick up the tune.
Out-passioned: Sacrilege to suggest such a thing against any Munster team but valid on this occasion. Clermont were seriously pumped for their trip to Thomond Park and turned the tables on their hosts by shredding into them from the start.
Fritz Lee and Jamie Cudmore were men possessed in both Clermont victories while Jacques Burger, Kelly Brown and Chris Ashton provided plenty of needle for Sarries. Saracens were aware, in their Allianz Park victory at the weekend, that they needed to keep Munster out for the 10 minutes after half-time. Munster smashed on the door but, once they were blanked, looked resigned to their fate. Only captain O'Mahony wanted to go down with a fight.
What's needed?
Munster were cursed with injuries to key players - Conor Murray, Damien Varley, Keith Earls, Dave Kilcoyne - during the European campaign so a change in luck would certainly help. Greater strength in depth is a massive requirement but the days of shopping for two or three quality imports is over. Losing JJ Hanrahan does not help the out-half situation while Murray needs a scrum-half to challenge him. Midfield needs to be addressed and has done for a number of years [it has been clear ever since James Downey was signed as a stop-gap in 2012]. Tyler Bleyendaal can't get quick fit enough.
Foley should look at the rest of the season, beginning with this Sunday's match with Sale Sharks, as a genuine chance to blood, and trust, his younger players. Kilcoyne, James Cronin, Dave Foley, Tommy O'Donnell, Andrew Conway, Simon Zebo, Dave O'Callaghan and Ronan O'Mahony - even Jack O'Donoghue - can form the spine of a team, led by O'Mahony, Jones, Keatley, Stander and Robin Copeland that can press their Guinness PRO12 title ambitions.
Ball-carrying, strike-running forwards would be handy - Paddy Butler looks promising but there are far too many similar, ground-hog back rows on the books. O'Mahony certainly has the ability to offer more of a carrying threat. He has shown attacking glimpses in the past, for club and country, and it might be worth considering freeing him up for more responsibility with ball-in-hand duty.
Placing a call to Ronan O'Gara in Paris would help too. Axel can enquire if he wants to transfer his coaching skills to UL or, proud Corkman that he is, C.I.T.
